Flourishing race car driver Justin Fontaine (@driverFontaine) will have a busy week at Chicagoland Speedway as he’ll compete in both the ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards and NASCAR Camping World Truck Series (NCWTS) races driving for AM Racing’s development partner Win-Tron Racing and Niece Motorsports respectively.
Fontaine will continue to pilot the No. 33 ProMATIC Toyota in ARCA competition, while taking the wheel of the No. 45 ProMATIC Toyota Tundra for Niece Motorsports in the series’ final race of the regular season.
ProMATIC Automation Inc., which specializes in the design and build of custom factory automation equipment will also expand its partnership for Chicagoland and serve as the title partner for both races.
On the heels of a solid 11th place showing last weekend on the historic short track banks of Salem (Ind.) Speedway, Asheville, N.C.-native Fontaine is eager to get back on a bigger track and take on the Windy City.
“I’m really grateful for the opportunity to compete in both the ARCA and Truck Series race at Chicagoland Speedway this week,” said Fontaine. “Chicagoland is a track that I’ve never been too, but I’m hoping the extra seat time will pay off like it did at Pocono this summer.”
Although a rookie, Fontaine hopes to follow the footpaths of Christopher Bell and Noah Gragson who will join Fontaine as the three drivers that will compete in both the ARCA and Truck Series race at Chicagoland.
“I’m going to spend my first few laps at Chicagoland getting up to speed,” said Fontaine. “I’ve heard Chicagoland is a very fast place – but a fun place too. I don’t have much experience when it comes to a mile-and—a-half track, but I’m eager to learn and put myself in a good position not only for my teams, but for ProMATIC too.”
Currently, Fontaine sits 16th in the ARCA championship standings despite missing four races after suffering a mild compression fracture of his L1 vertebrae during a late-race accident in the ARCA season-opener at Daytona (Fla.) International Speedway on Feb. 18. Since his return, the 19-year-old has competed in nine races with a career-best ninth-place result at Winchester (Ind.) Speedway in August.
“I have a good team in the ARCA Racing Series and I’m hoping we can continue to show a lot of speed on Thursday night in our No. 33 ProMATIC Toyota,” added Fontaine. “I’m hoping that what I learn during the race on Thursday night, I can apply to the race on Friday night in the Trucks.”
“It should be a competitive field for the truck race on Friday, but I think if use that same mentality of just learning and avoiding the trouble around me, I can equal or better my top-15 finish in Trucks at Pocono.”
Veteran industry leader Bill Henderson will lead Fontaine’s effort as crew chief in the ARCA race, while Cody Efaw will call the race for Fontaine in Trucks with assistance from long-time Truck Series ambassador Rick Ren.
Niece Motorsports, which is owned by Marine Corps veteran Al Niece will compete in a partial schedule during the 2017 season, with plans of running full time moving into 2018 and beyond.
In addition to ProMATIC Automation, Fontaine will have additional marketing partnership support from Accu-Tech, Snap Track, AM Technical Solutions, Superior Essex and Legrand for his third career NCWTS start.
The SCOTT 150 (100 laps / 150 miles) is the 18th of 20 races on the 2017 ARCA Racing Series presented by Menards schedule. Practice begins Thurs., Sept. 14 with an hour and a half practice session planned from 1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. General Tire pole qualifying is set for later in the day at 4:35 p.m. The race is set to take the green flag later shortly after 7:00 p.m. The event will be broadcasted live on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), while ARCARacing.com will stream live timing and scoring throughout the week’s activities. All times are local (CT).
The Chicagoland 225 (150 laps / 225 miles) is the 16th of 23 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series races on the 2017 schedule. Practice begins on Thurs., Sept. 14 from 2:30 p.m. – 3:25 p.m., with a final practice session is set for 5:30 p.m. – 6:25 p.m. Qualifying is set for race day, Fri., Sept. 15 beginning at 4:05 p.m. The 32-truck field will take the green flag shortly after 7:30 p.m. with live coverage on FOX Sports 1 (FS1), the Motor Racing Network (Radio) and SiriusXM NASCAR Radio (Satellite Radio, Channel 90). All times are local (Central).
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